Reward offered for tips on hit-and-run that killed Clintondale student

By Mitch Hotts

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a driver who was involved in a hit-and-run accident in Detroit that claimed the life of a local middle school student.

Christopher Sandoval, 10, was killed in the March 3 incident in front of his house on Bringard near Cordell in the area of Eight Mile and Kelly roads on Detroit's east side. The driver apparently drove up on the curb, struck the boy and continued on. He also struck a garbage can Christopher was near and stopped to get out and dislodge the garbage can from beneath the vehicle before taking off.

"I feel (the driver) was on drugs or drinking and driving because there's no way he would jump curb, taking (Christopher) 200 feet and leave him to die," said Lisa Sandoval, the boy's mother at a press conference on Wednesday.

Christopher, a sixth-grader at Clintondale Middle School in Clinton Township, was taking the trash out at his mother's request when he was hit. Witnesses told police a man driving a 2000 or 2001 Dodge Ram pickup truck struck the child. The truck may have had a snowplow or bracket in the bed.

Investigators said the driver was a white man or light skinned black male with a mustache.

"He was a caring little boy," Lisa Sandoval said.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Michigan at 1-800-Speak-Up. Callers can remain anonymous.